Taxi Drivers

Taxi Drivers repairing a taxi in the Kaufman Cabs depot.

Taxi Driver are one of pedestrians found in the GTA series. As the name implies, they drive taxi cabs around the cities, and can have foul tempers.

The Taxi Drivers

Over the years of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the taxi and cabbie drivers have evolved considerably.

GTA III era

A Kaufman Cabs Taxi Driver in Grand Theft Auto:Vice City.
A Vice City Cabs Taxi Driver in Grand Theft Auto:Vice City.

The Taxi drivers in GTA III and GTA Vice City are mostly immigrants (probably Middle Eastern or Indian, from their accents and dress) and usually run away if the players steal their taxi. However, players may also encounter a driver who will fight for his taxi. He then tries running after the player driving the cab (usually wielding baseball bats or shovels after GTA III), then if they do manage to catch up to the player, the driver will pull the player out of the taxi and engage in a one on one brawl with the player for stealing their taxi. However, if the player points a gun at the driver, but does not shoot, the driver will throw his hands up, usually saying good things to the player to prevent the player from shooting, then walk away and forget about the taxi. Throughout GTA San Andreas, the taxi drivers have not really evolved, and are still immigrants. If the player hits the taxi vehicle in GTA San Andreas, the driver will most likely exit the vehicle and either stand there or come after the player and attack them. For unknown reasons, the taxis and cabbies are usually one of the most common vehicles that are chased by the police. In GTA Liberty City Stories, the drivers are also immigrants but most are probably Indians, as evidenced when the player enters a taxi and Radio Del Mundo will play. Most taxi drivers in GTA San Andreas may like talk shows as when the player enter their taxi, WCTR will play.

HD Universe

GTA IV

Mohammed, a Taxi Driver for Express Car Service.

The taxi drivers in GTA IV are even ruder and more ill-tempered. Most of the cabbies are Greek, as indicated by the "Malaka!" or "Stupid Malaka!" insult they shout when you crash into them (Greek term for "wanker"). This is further reinforced with the occasional yell of "To Hades with you, Malaka!" Hades is, in Greek Mythology, the land of the dead. Occasionally, following a traffic accident, they will exit their cab and attempt to pull you out of your car and start a fight. If this occurs when a police officer is nearby, or if they are near a Police Cruiser, they will take immediate action, arresting the driver and taking them away.

The Taxi drivers in GTA IV don't care if you pull out a passenger and get in yourself, but run away if you shoot out the window.

If you call 911 and choose the police after you have fought with him, he will act like you have shot him and crawl away and not fight you anymore.

GTA V

Taxi drivers and a revamped taxi side mission return in GTA V. These taxi drivers share their model with ordinary Mexican male pedestrians, although their behaviour is scripted differently. Mexican taxi drivers lack the aggressive behaviour of their predecessors and ordinary pedestrians - they will always run away rather than fight the player if their taxi is damaged or a hijack is attempted. Their driving is acceptable, but if told to hurry, they start crashing into other cars and objects every few metres.

Trivia

  • In GTA Vice City, the Vice City Cabs drivers have full beards while the Kaufman Cabs drivers have just moustaches.
  • When hitting the car, the driver will come out and attack you, the same is done if you squirt the taxi with a Fire Truck, or ramming into them with a car.
  • It is possible to get a free taxi ride by shooting out the window when you're near your destination, though this requires waiting through the entire drive.
  • After becoming more friendly with Roman Bellic, he will offer you a job driving taxis, or you can get a free ride from one of Romans employees, Mohammed earning you the "Driving Mr. Bellic" achievement. Though Mohammed is short tempered and constantly hurls insults at Niko calling him a free loader. He can be killed for money and will resurrect.
  • You can ask the taxi driver to change the radio station. You can also change the destination but this might cost you more.
  • Getting a lift from one island to another without skipping gets you the "It'll Cost Ya" achievement.
  • On rare occurrence there will be a female taxi driver who says nothing at all but is obviously a woman.